Bob Burns obit

Bob Burns (1935 – 2025)

 

He was not on the list.

We are truly heartbroken this evening to learn that our dear friend Bob Burns has died.

Bob and his wife Kathy, who passed in 2021, were two of the kindest and most generous human beings I’ve ever had the honor of knowing in my time in Hollywood.

Together, they safeguarded a deep well of knowledge about the history of genre cinema, and so many of its most sacred artifacts, as the keepers of Hollywood’s attic.

I’ll never forget those joyous occasions when The Digital Bits crew had the opportunity to visit Bob’s Basement.

Kathy always greeted your arrival with a plate of freshly-baked cookies—after you’d shared enormous bear hugs with each of them first, of course.

You truly felt like Indiana Jones while roaming the aisles of their treasure trove of iconic props and costumes.

Every time they heard you gasp and exclaim, “Oh my God, is that the—?!” Bob would immediately reply, “It sure is—go ahead and pick it up!” and Kathy would quickly add, “Bob, tell them the story!” which would prompt a riveting 20-30 minute tale about how the prop was made and by whom, how it was cleverly used in the film or series in question, and how it came into their protective hands.

It’s no exaggeration when I say this: Never in my life have I met anyone with as hearts as big as Bob and Kathy.

And the only thing that eases my sadness tonight at the news of Bob’s passing, is the knowledge that maybe… just maybe… the two of them are together once again in the Great Beyond.

I know I speak for all of us here at The Digital Bits, team members both past and present, when I close with this…

Love you, Bob.

Hug Kathy for us! And Godspeed.

Beast Wishes, by filmmakers Frank Dietz and Trish Geiger, is described as "a documentary film about a man, a gorilla... and a woman who loves them both!" It honors the work of Bob Burns. Clips of the film were shown at the Monsterpalooza convention in 2012, with Burns present as a panelist.

 

Filmography

Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957)

Lemon Grove Kids Meet the Monsters (1965)

Rat Pfink a Boo Boo (1966)

Superman vs. the Gorilla Gang (1965) – Kogar the Gorilla

The Further Adventures of Major Mars (1976)

The Ghost Busters as "Tracy, The Gorilla" with Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch on the CBS-TV Series 1975 but is credited as the one who "trained" Tracy.

The Further Adventures of Major Mars (1976) (uncredited) – Major Mars

Robot Monster: Special Edition (1982) (TV)

Drive (1997) – Doctor/Co-pilot

Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here (1988) – Muffo

"Mac Tonight" Character puppeteering for, promotion for McDonald's television Commercials (1989–1990)

Forrest J. Ackerman's Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction & Fantasy (1991) (Direct to video) – Himself

The Vampire Hunters Club (2001) (Video) – Bob

The Universe According to Universal (2002) (DVD extra for It Came From Outer Space)

Monster Kid Home Movies (2005) (Video) – Various roles ("The Alien", "The Monster")

The Sky Is Falling: Making 'The War of the Worlds' (2005) (DVD Extra)

The Naked Monster (2005) – Admiral Burns/Tracy the Gorilla

King Kong (2005) – NY Bystander

Dark and Stormy Night (2009) – Kogar the Gorilla

The Lovely Bones (2009) – Mall Shopper

Audio commentaries

The Creature Walks Among Us, with film historian Tom Weaver

The Fly II, with director Chris Walas

Frankenstein 1970, with actress Charlotte Austin and film historian Tom Weaver

Godzilla Raids Again, with film historians Steve Ryfle, Ed Godziszewski, and Stuart Galbraith IV

The Mummy, with film historians Rick Baker, Scott Essman, Steven Haberman, and Brent Armstrong

Revenge of the Creature, with actress Lori Nelson and film historian Tom Weaver

The War of the Worlds, with filmmaker Joe Dante and film historian Bill Warren

The White Gorilla, with film historian Tom Weaver

The Bride and the Beast, with actors Charlotte Austin and Slick Slavin and film historian Tom Weaver